Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment

This book is a quick read that changed my life!The process Mr Leonard describes in this book is straightforward, easy to understand, and even easier to apply - as long as you can learn to love the journey! This will offer you a great insight into your successes, and other results, and show you a clear path to achievement. You'll be able to understand your own behaviors, and those of others, better and be more mindful of them to help yourself and others achieve your goals while enjoying the process (which is the actual goal itself).A quick warning: this can be a painful read, since we all have times in our lives when we have, and even still will, participate in the patterns Mr Leonard describes as 'Anti-Mastery'. Many have a problem with this part, but it is necessary to accept and come to terms with it, there is no shame in the feedback from past adventures unless you continue to not learn from them, this requires humility and letting go of pretense. If you can manage that you'll be on the path to Mastery sooner than you realize, without even realizing it!An excellent read in conjunction with Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Harper Perennial Modern Classics) or Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life (Masterminds Series). Mastery describes how to love the path and progress, Flow describes how to stay engaged and progress when on the 'plateaus' that we all encounter along the path of Mastery. Either on their own is incomplete.

Happen to fall upon this book from a barre fitness studio website. Timing was good for me because I was already living some of these principles on my own so reading about them from an experienced and seasoned writer who was obviously sincere provided nice reinforcement. Be open minded and silence the inner critic, give this book a chance it’s worth it

Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillmentby George LeonardDan John mentions this book in several places, so I figured it was probably worth checking out.Turns out that it is. Not a big shock, really.Leonard approaches the question of mastery from his perspective as a long-time practitioner of Aikido, but his insights into the quest for mastery are applicable to any endeavor. Leonard begins the book by describing three mindsets that he considers incompatible with mastery: the dabbler, the hacker, and the obsessive. He then lays out his five keys to mastery, detailing each one and how to approach it. Finally, he wraps up with some chapters on preparing for the journey of mastery.It's a concise little book, but there is a lot of wisdom in here. The section on the dabbler, hacker, and obsessive are useful filtering tools, both for recognizing those behaviors in myself, and in people who train with me. The five keys to mastery, likewise, are pretty good sign posts, and a couple of them served as useful reminders of things I knew, but forgot again.I confess I didn't love some of the "tools for the journey", as a lot of them were rehashed Aikido demonstrations like the "unbendable arm" (or the splayed fingers drill from the PDR system), and a few other things. I suppose if your goal is mastering Aikido, they have their use, but I'm not convinced that everyone needs to experience these drills.Still, if you're looking for a way to focus on your goals, this is a good place to start. Lot of useful concepts in here.

If you're deciding whether or not to read this, think about the core message of this book: mastery is a path, not a destination. This book then lays out a roadmap for anyone seeking long-term fulfillment, giving practical wisdom for how to master specific disciplines. This approach directly opposes modern obsessions with quick fixes and instant gratification, instead opting for a more deep and meaningful approach to life's challenges. If you're ready to start your journey of mastery without any concern of when you will arrive at a destination, then I highly recommend you read this to be inspired and encouraged on your path.

We have often heard that the joy is in the journey. Leonard clearly defines the journey of mastery and how we can savor every step. Simple, subtle and profound, this book is a fabulous guide to enjoying every facet of life by living as a master.

This book contains many wonderful insights and I've read it multiple times.

Pasta blanda pero muy bueno!

... Die ich jemals gelesen habe. Jeder sollte dieses Buch gelesen haben. Es hilft, sich selbst zu verbessern und dem Kern auf den Grund zu gehen.Absolut atemberaubend und bewusstseinserweiternd und dabei sachlich bleibend.Ein unglaublich starkes Buch über den Weg zur Meisterschaft oder wie der Autor selbst sagt über den Weg des lebenslangen Lernens.

The main highlights of the book –1. Talks about the need of Mastery in the present world.2. Gives profound advice on how to inculcate mastery in our daily lives.3. Exposes the hidden workings of the world which wants us to seek meaningless pleasures.4. Gives you various tools and tips to include mastery in your daily practice.5. Has a chapter about Mindfulness.6. Helps you to use mastery to become the best at your field.The long version -Mastery isn't just a skill you master and be done with; it is a lifelong journey without an end. This book makes you think deeply about mastery. The author explains various processes involved in mastery and how in the present society where mastery is extinct, must come back.The book teaches you the subtle art of mastery and how you can apply it in your daily life. The first part of the book explains how mastery is almost non-existent in the present world. People love instant gratification and instead of pursuing a meaningful goal, they are running after their next dopamine high. The society is trying to bombard you with endless amount of instant gratification and pleasure. Remember, this book was written in the 1990's, think about the direness of the situation now.The author stresses the need to break free from this pleasure trap and seek out meaningful work or activities that give you satisfaction over the long run.In the second part, the author talks about Mastery itself. How it happens and how you can use it to become the best at your field. He talks about how mastery is created. He also gives you various tips on how to use mastery in your own field. In the third part, he gives you various tools on how to keep Mastery sustainable.The writing style of the author is very fluid, and you could just breeze through the book. The book is only 180 pgs. long but can offer a lifetime of wisdom in terms of skill development and meaningful work. The ending paragraph of the book makes you think about yourself in a deeper way. This was a beautiful book to read as it exposed the pleasure trap what engulfs us daily, and how it is our duty to inculcate mastery in our daily life.P.S. – This book is quite different from Robert Greene’s Mastery. Both books are good on their terms.

Un libro claro, detallado y muy práctico en algunas secciones que puede abrir los ojos a mucha gente. A mí por ejemplo. Fácil de leer.